Defense system for changing the course of an incoming propelled munition

ABSTRACT

A defense system for changing the course of an incoming munition, the system comprising: a net, and a drogue chute attached to the net. The defense system also includes a pneumatic tube for launching the net and drogue chute in a desired direction, and a wire between the pneumatic tube and the net and drogue chute for deploying the net and drogue chute. The defense system also includes wings on a casing housing the net and drogue chute for keeping the drogue chute on the bottom of the net.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to defense systems for changing the courseof an incoming propelled munition.

History has shown that propelled missiles including grenades (RPGs) andtorpedoes impose a serious threat to either a fixed position or to ahelicopter or other mobile operation. Currently, there is no low costeffective mechanism for attempting to neutralize this threat.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a defense system for changing the course of an incomingmunition, the system comprising: a net, and a drogue chute attached tothe net. The defense system also includes launch means for launching thenet and drogue chute in a desired direction, and deploying means fordeploying the net and drogue chute. In one embodiment, the defensesystem further includes means for keeping the drogue chute on the bottomof the net. And the deploying means includes a wire between the launchmeans and the net and drogue chute.

In another embodiment, an explosive or rocket device is used in lieu ofthe drogue chute.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side schematic view of a munition being fired towards alocation.

FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of a deployed defense system accordingto this disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of the munition captured in the defensesystem of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side schematic view of another embodiment of the defensesystem according to this disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an ordinance according to thisdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional schematic view of the ordinance of FIG.5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic enlarged front view of the loop that connects anet frame to a drogue chute frame.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the loop that connects a net frame to a droguechute frame shown in FIG. 7.

Before one embodiment of the disclosure is explained in detail, it is tobe understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application tothe details of the construction and the arrangements of components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Thedisclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orbeing carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including”and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well asadditional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as usedherein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter andequivalents thereof. Further, it is to be understood that such terms as“forward”, “rearward”, “left”, “right”, “upward”, “downward”, “side”,“top” and “bottom”, etc., are words of convenience and are not to beconstrued as limiting terms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 is a defense system 10 for dramaticallychanging the course of an incoming munition 14, such a rocket propelledgrenade (RPG) or a torpedo. The defense system 10 can be used either inair or in water. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the system 10 comprises a net18, a drogue chute 22 attached to the net 18, and means 26 (see FIG. 5)for keeping the drogue chute on the bottom of the net. When the net 18is deployed, the net 18 is transverse to the direction of incomingtravel of the munition 14, so that the net 18 ensnares the munition 14.To this end, the net 18 is preferable cup shaped when deployed. When themunition 14 collides with the net 18, the drogue chute 22 fills with airor water, as shown in FIG. 3, and the drogue chute 22 resists furthermovement caused by the munition 14. The net 18 and drogue chute 22 applya pull on the munition 14 at an angle to its direction of incomingtravel, causing the munition 14 to veer substantially downwardly, or tobegin to tumble downwardly in an end over end manner. As a result, themunition 14 will no longer contact its intended target or others nearthe intended target.

The defense system 10 also includes a casing 30 housing the net 18 anddrogue chute 22, as shown schematically in FIG. 6. The exact location,shape and size of the net 18 and drogue chute 22 packed in the casing 30is not shown in FIG. 6. The casing 30 holds the net 18 and drogue chute22, and delivers them to a desired location. In the preferredembodiment, intended for use with an RPG, the casing 30 is a blunt nosedaluminum tube about 3 inches in diameter. In other embodiments (notshown), other casing materials, shapes and diameters can be used,depending on the size of the anticipated munition.

It is important for the drogue chute 22 to deploy at the bottom of thenet 18. This, with the assistance of gravity, increases the likelihoodof the munition 14 being deflected substantially downwardly away fromits intended target. The lines or risers 38 (see FIG. 3) for the droguechute 22 are designed to produce drag as dose to perpendicular to thedirection of munition flight as possible.

In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the means 26 forkeeping the drogue chute 22 on the bottom of the net 18 is in the formof wings attached to the casing 30. Wings 26 cause the casing 30 tomaintain its orientation relative to the horizon, so that the droguechute 22 is deployed at the bottom of the net 18. In other embodiments,other means for keeping the drogue chute at the bottom of the net can beused. For example, a gyro (not shown) might be incorporated inside ofthe casing 30 to control the orientation of the net 18 and drogue chute22. Wings 26, however, provide a less expensive alternative to a complexgyro system. In the preferred embodiment, the wings 26 are fixedrelative to the case 30. In other embodiments, the wings 26 may befolded against the body of the casing 30 before launch, and thendeployed outward after launch.

The defense system 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, also includes launchmeans 40 for launching the casing with the net and drogue chute(hereafter referred to as an ordinance 42) in a desired direction. Inorder to have the net and drogue chute deployed in a proper defenseposition, the ordinance 42 must be delivered to a particular location.Various means of doing so are possible. For example, the ordinance 42could be the head of the rocket (not shown). But preferably, the defensesystem 10 should not be readily visible to others. A heat signatureassociated with the firing of a rocket is readily detectable orobservable. To this end then, in the preferred embodiment, the launchmeans 40 is pneumatic. A pneumatic system 40 for launching the ordinance42 in is less identifiable by others. In the preferred embodiment, alaunch tube 40 with a source of high pressure gas is used to launch theordinance 42.

In the preferred embodiment for RPGs, the net 18 is made from Kevlar andhas a deployed diameter of about ten feet. The net 18 will be ofanti-rip design that will allow sharp nosed munitions to penetrate thenet but will not allow the munition 14 to pass through the net 18. Oncethe nose of the munition has passed through the net, or the munitionslides to the peripheral frame without penetrating the net, any pull onthe net will change the direction of the munition. In other embodiments(not shown), other net materials and net sizes can be used, provided thematerial will maintain its contact with the munition after its initialcollision with the munition. The net 18 allows air or water to passthrough the net 18, so the net 18 maintains its position transverse tothe direction of incoming travel of the munition prior to its collisionwith the munition. Overtime, the drogue chute 22 may change the positionof the net 18 before the munition 14 engages the net 18, but it isexpected the munition and net collision will occur prior to significantmovement of the net and drogue chute.

In the illustrated embodiment, the net 18 includes an outer peripheryframe 44, and at least a portion of the net outer periphery frame 44 isinflatable. Although in other embodiments (not shown), other netconstructions can be used, by using an inflatable frame, the net weight,complexity and size prior to deployment can be minimized. Similarly, thedrogue chute 22 includes an outer periphery frame 48, and at least aportion of the drogue chute outer periphery frame 48 is inflatable. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the net and drogue chute inflatable framesare in gas communication via a conduit 49 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) with eachother, so inflation of one also inflates the other. In other lesspreferred embodiments (not shown), the frames may be inflatedseparately. Once inflated, the frames 44 and 48 are relatively stiff.

In order to connect the drogue chute 22 to the net 18, the defensesystem 10 further includes a loop 50 (see FIGS. 3, 7 and 8) connectingthe drogue chute outer periphery frame 48 to the net outer peripheryframe 44. The connecting loop 50 is made of a material that will absorbenough of the shock impact of the munition on the net to assure that thenet and drogue remain attached, while exerting the maximum drag. Inother embodiments (not shown), other means of attaching the drogue chuteto the net, including incorporating the drogue chute into a lowerportion of the net, can be used.

The defense system 10 also includes deploying means 54 (see FIG. 6) fordeploying the net 18 and drogue chute 22. In the illustrated embodiment,the deploying means is in the form of inflating means 54 for inflatingthe net outer periphery frame 44 and drogue chute outer periphery frame48. The inflating means 54 comprises a housing 58 within the casing 30having a high pressure reserve 62 filled with a high pressure gas, andactivation means 66 for selectively connecting the high pressure reserve62 to the frames 44 and 48. In other less preferred embodiments (notshown), other means for quickly deploying and inflating the net anddrogue chute can be used. For example, an automotive air bag system (notshown) can be used.

In the illustrated embodiment, the high pressure gas is helium orhydrogen, which is lighter than air. This provides the frames 44 and 48with some buoyancy, thus helping to maintain the net and drogue chute ina particular location. But it is expected that the net 18 will ensnarethe munition 14 soon after deployment, so the absence of buoyancy is notlikely to be problematic. When the net is to be deployed under water,the net will be designed to have essentially the same density, orbuoyancy, as the water.

In the illustrated embodiment, the activation means 66 comprises thehousing 58 also having a channel 70 in air communication with the highpressure reserve 62 and the frames 44 and 48, and a slide 74 traversingthe channel 70 and movable between a channel closed position and achannel open position. When it is time to deploy the net 18 and droguechute 22, the slide 74 moves from its closed to its open position, thuscausing the frames 44 and 48 to fill with gas. After filling, the frames44 and 48 are sealed off, trapping the gas inside the frames 44 and 48.This filling of the frames in turn forces the net 18 and drogue chute 22from the casing 30, with the net 18 being oriented generally transverseto the casing 30, and generally transverse to the direction of theincoming munition 14. In other embodiments (not shown), other means foractivating the gas to cause the frames to fill can be used, such aselectronic or other igniters.

In the illustrated embodiment, deploying means 54 deploys the net 18 anddrogue chute 22 at a predetermined distance from the launch means 40with a wire 84 (see FIGS. 2 and 6) or tether between the launch means 40for launching the casing 30 and the casing 30. In less preferredembodiments (not shown), wireless ignition system or timers or othermeans for deploying can be used. Such other means however increase thecost of defense system. Tube-launched, optically tracked, and wireguided (TOW) systems are known. They are used with an umbilical thatcommunicates with a rocket to guide the rocket to a destination. In theillustrated embodiment, the defense system 10 uses a simple wire 84 tomaintain contact with the casing 30 to control the location were the net18 and drogue chute 22 will be deployed.

More particularly, the wire 84 is attached to the slide 74 so that, whenthe ordinance 42 reaches its predetermined distance from the launchmeans 40, the wire 84 moves the slide 74 from its channel dosed positionto its channel open position, resulting in the deploying of the net 18and drogue chute 22. More particularly, the wire 84 is unwound to apredetermined length as the ordinance 42 flies. At this length, the wire84 no longer unwinds, so the wire 84 pulls the slide 74. After pullingthe slide 74, the wire 84 is ejected by the launch means 40 to preparefor the launching of another defense system 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the defense system 10 also includesaiming means 90 (shown schematically in FIG. 1) responsive to the firingof a munition 14 to aim the launch means 40 so the ordinance 42 willintercept the munition 14. Various means are known for such aimingmeans, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. 7,190,304 issued Mar. 13,2007, which is incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the heat signature of the rocket propulsionof the munition being fired is used to determine a need to launch thedefense system 10, when the launch should occur, and at what distancefrom the launch means the net 18 and drogue chute 22 should be deployed.

The aiming means 90 includes wire payout means for paying out apredetermined, or as calculated by the launch system, a calculatedpredetermined amount of wire 84, depending on the desired net and droguechute deployment location.

In other embodiments (not shown), a multiple of such defense systems 10can be deployed at a single instance or one after another in order toneutralize a threat from one or more munitions.

The disclosed defense system 10 is not just confined to rocket propelledmissiles. Any propelled ordinance (such as a torpedo) that can bedetected by radar, sonar or heat can be defeated. Only the specificdesign of the ordinance needs be adjusted to be appropriate to the typeof threat. For example, “Ship buster missiles” are very large and intheir final approach are very low (dose to the water). A heavy dutydefense system 10 would take care of such a missile.

Also, especially with air-to-air missiles, but even with ground-to-airmissiles, the altitude of the engagement might reduce the effect of thedrogue chute because of the thinner air. For high altitude systems, thedrogue chute can be replaced with an exploding device in the form of arocket 94 (see FIG. 4). The exploding device would be immediatelyactivated once the missile contacts and pulls the net to give a brief,violent pull on the nose of the incoming missile.

Various other features of this disclosure are set forth in the followingclaims.

1. A defense system for changing the course of an incoming munition, thesystem comprising: a net, a drogue chute attached to the net, and meansfor keeping the drogue chute on the bottom of the net.
 2. A defensesystem according to claim 1 wherein when the net is deployed, the net istransverse to the direction of incoming travel of the munition.
 3. Adefense system according to claim 1 wherein the system further includesa casing housing the net and drogue chute.
 4. A defense system accordingto claim 3 wherein the means for keeping the drogue chute on the bottomof the net comprises wings attached to the casing. A defense systemaccording to claim 3 wherein the system further includes launch meansfor launching the casing in a desired direction.
 6. A defense systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the net is made from Kevlar.
 7. A defensesystem according to claim 1 wherein the system includes deploying meansfor deploying the net and drogue chute.
 8. A defense system according toclaim 7 wherein the deploying means deploys the net and drogue chute ata predetermined distance from the launch means.
 9. A defense systemaccording to claim 7 wherein the net includes an outer periphery frame,at least a portion of the net outer periphery frame being inflatable.10. A defense system according to claim 9 wherein the drogue chuteincludes an outer periphery frame, at least a portion of the droguechute outer periphery frame being inflatable.
 11. A defense systemaccording to claim 10 wherein the net and drogue chute inflatable framesare in air communication with each other.
 12. A defense system accordingto claim 11 wherein the system further includes a loop connecting thedrogue chute outer periphery frame to the net outer periphery frame. 13.A defense system according to claim 10 wherein the deploying meansincludes inflating means for inflating the net outer periphery frame anddrogue chute outer periphery frame.
 14. A defense system according toclaim 13 wherein the inflating means comprises a high pressure reservefilled with a high pressure gas, and activation means for selectivelyconnecting the high pressure reserve to the frames.
 15. A defense systemaccording to claim 14 wherein the high pressure gas is lighter than air.16. A defense system according to claim 14 wherein the activation meanscomprises a housing having a channel in air communication with the highpressure reserve and the frames, and a slide traversing the channel andmovable between a channel open position and a channel dosed position.17. A defense system according to dam 16 wherein the means for deployingthe net and drogue chute comprises a wire between the means forlaunching the casing and the casing.
 18. A defense system according toclaim 17 wherein the wire is attached to the slide so that, when thecasing reaches its predetermined distance from the launch means, thewire moves the slide from its channel dosed position to its channel openposition.
 19. A defense system according to claim 18 wherein the systemfurther includes aiming means responsive to the firing of a munition toaim the launch means.
 20. A defense system according to claim 19 whereinthe aiming system further includes wire payout means for paying out apredetermined amount of wire depending on desired net and drogue chutedeployment location.
 21. A defense system according to claim 1 whereinthe launch means is pneumatic.
 22. A defense system for changing thecourse of an incoming munition, the system comprising: a net, a droguechute attached to the net, launch means for launching the net and droguechute in a desired direction, and deploying means for deploying the netand drogue chute, the deploying means including a wire between thelaunch means and the net and drogue chute.
 23. A defense system forchanging the course of an incoming munition, the system comprising: anet, an exploding device attached to the net, the exploding device beingimmediately activated once the munition contacts and pulls the net togive a brief, violent pull on the nose of the incoming munition, andmeans for keeping the exploding device on the bottom of the net.